Southern Regional (Manahawkin, N.J.) standout, Mike Gesicki,
is one of the most sought-after tight ends throughout the northeast. His
combination of size and ability to catch the football has made him a top choice
for multiple programs across the country. NJ.com caught up with Gesciki who
discussed his Rutgers recruitment, in-depth, his time frame for a decision, the schools he has visited this
summer and will visit going forward, his top six, his position preference and
much more. Let's get it on!

TH: What you been
up to, Mike?

MG: A lot of
traveling, seeing different schools, seeing different places, staying busy
working out. I've been busy, but I've been enjoying myself.

I've been to Ohio State, I was at Miami (Fla.), and I was up
at Florida State. I'll be at Duke tomorrow (yesterday), Wisconsin next Tuesday,
Penn state next Friday. And I know I'm going to a Rutgers practice, again, when
they start up. So, I'll be around.

TH: You released
a top five a month or so, ago. Has anything changed since then?

MG: I have a top
six, now. My top six after going to see all these schools and different places
I've been, in no order: Miami (Fla.), Rutgers, Florida State, Penn State,
Wisconsin and Ohio State.

TH: Are you
getting any closer to making a final decision, Mike?

MG: I'm gonna go
to games, and I think the last game I have set up is in the middle of October. So
after I get all the experiences going to games, I think I'm gonna get it all
out; probably by the end of October, very beginning of November.

TH: I always
thought that if you were going to commit to Rutgers, it would have already
occurred. Is Rutgers really a legitimate contender for you?

MG: Of course, I
talk to coach Cohen all the time, I talk to coach Simon all the time; coach Camp,
coach Prince. They all get in contact with me, I get in contact with them. I
love Rutgers, I've been there probably four times, make it a fifth this summer
going up to a practice. I like where they are heading, going into the Big Ten
after the successful season they'll have this year.

I know the players really respond well to coach Flood. He's
a phenomenal coach. And they've got a good program going on there. It's
definitely on the rise at Rutgers. Being so close to home, it's a pretty cool
deal, as well. Everybody can come watch me play, experience the same things I'm
experiencing. That would be pretty cool. They are definitely still up there.

TH: Have you
discussed Rutgers with any committed prospects or other potential recruits?

MG: I've talked
to their quarterback, Tyler Wiegers, and I've heard from Myles Nash. Different
guys have reached out to me, I've reached out to them. I know that their whole
recruiting class are very happy to be Scarlet Knights. And they're excited
about where the program is going.

TH: With the
recruiting process becoming accelerated, this year especially, do you feel any
pressure make your decision soon?

MG: With it being
so late and a lot of guys committing, getting it out of the way earlier, I know
it's kind of a numbers game at this point in time. But I've heard from Rutgers,
and they told me my spot would still be there. I've heard from Ohio State, they
told me no rush. Wisconsin, take your time. Everybody just, kind of, says take
your time, no rush and make the decision that's right for you. So, I'm being reassured
by my top schools. They're letting me know -- Florida State, Miami -- they've
been very supportive of my choice.

TH: You've told
me in the past that Rutgers is recruiting you as a wide receiver. What position
does each of your other top six members have you projected to?

MG: Every other school
in my top six is looking at me as the h-back kind of hybrid tight end guy rather
than wide receiver.

TH: What's your
preference?

MG: It's different.
I went to camp at Rutgers (Friday Knight Skills Camp) as a receiver and I fit
in well and was able to do the drills just like all the smaller guys. A lot of
schools before this year were saying I was too slow to play receiver. Then I
came out and ran a 4.52 (40-yard dash at Ohio State) showing I'm definitely a
lot faster than what people thought. A lot of people have doubts about me
playing receiver, but I know for a fact, that if I went to Rutgers and I wanted
to play wide receiver, I would be fine.

Other schools want me in that h-back/tight end position, and
that's just something that I've opened up to. I've sat down and watched film
with all the different coaches. It's pretty cool to be able to sit down and
watch film with the coaches from Ohio State, coaches from Wisconsin. You
realize there are different positions out there. And I need to have all my
options open, just because there are so many ways you can get the ball. And
that's kind of that new evolving position; that new h-back /tight end position
that everybody kind of wants. So, it's just something I've opened myself up to
but I'm not set on anything yet.

TH: I've noticed
you've been working hard throughout the off-season. Talk about some of the
strength and conditioning you've been doing, this summer.

MG: I just
weighed in, I was 6-6, 237. I'm getting there. I'm definitely getting stronger,
as well. Our coach runs an off-season strength and conditioning program. And
right now, we're doing sets of five. And I just got 300 (pounds on the bench
press) for five the other day. I'm excited about that. I'm trying to break our
team record for bench. The record is 375. So I'm trying to get up there.

TH: Any schools
outside of your top six making a charge?

MG: I've been in
contact with Alabama, and they want me to come to a camp. But I was planning to
go to Florida State, that day. But they're very low on tight ends so they still
want to get me out for a visit. So, that might be a possibility. Checking out
Alabama, I know it's a different world out there. I'm not 100 percent sure yet
on that.

But they're interested in me. I talk to coach Cristobal. He said
Alabama doesn't really offer anybody without seeing them in-person, getting
them on campus. It's a different process but obviously it works for them,
winning three of the last four national championships.